By Gift Sitima
In response to President Lazarus Chakwera’s call for humanitarian assistance after Tropical Storm Ana-induced floods, well-wishers are coming in droves.
The latest non-State actor to join relief efforts is Darussunnah Foundation, which on Saturday donated relief items worth K50 million to storm survivors in Dedza, Ntcheu and Lilongwe districts.
The relief items, which have been donated to 1,600 households in the three districts, include brackets, maize flour, rice, beans, cooking oil, sugar, salt, soap, plastic plates and cups.
Darussunnah Foundation Director Ismael Allan said they were committed to alleviating the suffering of people affected by natural disasters.
“It is not the first time we are doing this in the country. We have been coming to the rescue of flood survivors and survivors of other disasters in the country from January this year and we are continuing with the efforts.
“We are grateful to Dar Al Ber Society, a charity organisation from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, for responding positively to our proposal to assist flood survivors in Malawi. We are also grateful to the Government of Malawi for enabling us to operate freely,” he said.
Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola, who was the guest of honour at the relief items presentation event, hailed the organisation for reaching out to vulnerable people.
He said there was a need for State and non-State actors to join hands in meeting the socio-economic needs of people.
“We need to work together but also respect leaders, whether from the Muslim Association of Malawi or the leadership of the country. Unity is very important. This country has never experienced division because of skin colour or religion and this is commendable. We should be working hand-in-hand to build our country,” Matola said.
He also urged Muslims and Christians to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan and Easter, respectively, to pray for the country as it was facing myriad challenges including the Covid pandemic, the wild polio threat and natural disasters.
One of the beneficiaries, Aisha Banda, thanked the organisation for what she described as a “timely donation”.
The relief items’ distribution event was graced by Presidential Special Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Nation-building Reverend Maurice Munthali and Deputy Special Adviser on Religious Affairs Sheikh Hashim Abbas, among others.